SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT: At the SOUTHERN end (that is, the bottom) of each vertical theme answer, the word OUCH is found: OSCAR THE GROUCH, I'M NO SLOUCH, BIG ORANGE COUCH, and YONDR POUCH.

Figuring out the theme helped me complete the puzzle, as I knew the theme answers needed to end in -OUCH. This was particularly helpful for YONDR POUCH, which is new to me. Thank you, Nate ...